Win/7 updates never complete

Run Task Manager; click the column heading CPU (twice?) to get descending list of usage.

svchost is second in the list and stays there (doesn't change usage). on my system, it appears to hang at 25% (your may differ)

let Update run 10-20 minutes and there's no change, no progress.

Notice in the Update window, you will have

Most recent check xx xx xx

Updates installed xx/xx/xx

and View History will show it all from day-1 of your system.

Comment:

Whereas Win/7 is getting long in the tooth (my install goes back to 7/2006)

the history and downloads accumulated thru time are enormous and SVCHOST is

reading all of this to determine, "What Do I Need", ergo large cpu usage.

PLEASE don't mention upgrading to the mindless win/8 8.1 or win/10. I know why I've elected to freeze at win/7 and you will not convince me otherwise - - so let's be friends and show some tolerance for the choices of others

FIX: *READ* the entire post before beginning this change!

login as Admin. QUIT all running programs

using services, STOP Microsoft Update service

using the file Explorer, cd to c:\Windows

SCROLL to find the folder SoftwareDistributions

right-click on that folder and DELETE IT

REBOOT

The folder will be recreated on first execution of MS Update

Panel will show

Most recent check NONE

Updates installed NONE

Click on Check For Updates
and let it complete *DO NOT KILL THE TASK OR CLOSE THE WINDOW*

I did have this issue a few years ago and nothing that was suggested worked. I think that eventually I visited the section in Control Panel for enabling/disabling Windows features and found a completely empty box. Working from that I found a solution.

The unmentionable upgrade is not an option anyway because you need to fully update Windows 7 first. In your situation I'd reinstall Windows 7. It could well be faster than tinkering to find the problem. Not a great option but lots easier than reinstalling XP.